Spirit of Freedom - Washington, DC
Posted by: neoc1
N 38° 54.996 W 077° 01.558
18S E 324354 N 4309472
The sculpture "Spirit of Freedom" is part of the African-American Civil War Museum. The sculpture is located at U Street and Vermont Avenues, NW in Washington, DC
Waymark Code: WM15HD3
Location: District of Columbia, United States
Date Posted: 01/07/2022
Views: 7
"Spirit of Freedom" is a bronze sculpture create by Ed Hamilton and cast at the New Arts Foundry in Baltimore, MD. It was dedicated on July 18, 1998.
On the north side of the sculpture are four 8' high relief figures of three American-American Civil War infantrymen and one sailor against a 12' wall. Above them, between the second and third figures, is the face of the Spirit of Freedom, a relief of an angel-like image with crossed arms. The infantrymen are all carrying rifles while the sailor is holding on to a ships wheel.
Below them on the circular granite base is the inscription:
CIVIL WAR TO CIVIL RIGHTS AND BEYOND
THIS MEMORIAL IS DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE
AFRICAN AMERICAN UNITS OF THE UNION ARMY IN THE CIVIL WAR.
THE 209,145 NAMES INSCRIBED ON THESE WALLS COMMEMORATE
THOSE FIGHTERS OF FREEDOM.
On the south side is a inward curved relief sculpture containing six larger-than-life size African-American figures. From left to right they are: a woman, African -American Civil War soldier, a young girl holding a doll, a young boy, and older man and an older woman. The older man has his right arm extended towards the soldier.
Below them on the circular granite base is the inscription:
Spirit of Freedom
Ed Hamilton, Sculptor
Behind the sculpture is a curved wall with the names of 209,145 African-American's who served with the Union forces during the Civil War.